Group to help council on new cultural venue

A theatre advocacy group has offered to work with Mid Sussex District Council on its plans for a new cultural venue.

The authority recently turned down a community bid to buy or lease Clair Hall, in Haywards Heath, which closed in 2020.

Instead, an unnamed company will redevelop the site to provide a four-screen cinema, alongside a multi-use performance space and a restaurant/bar.

Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust – the national advice and advocacy body for the UK's theatres – said: "We know many people in the Haywards Heath community will be disappointed by the loss of Clair Hall."

The trust added the venue to its Theatres at Risk Register in 2022, as it was the only live performance venue in the area, and was well-used by community theatre groups before the pandemic, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

McTaggart added: "While Theatres Trust is pleased that the council has committed to developing a new cultural facility, we are disappointed that the proposal appears to be mainly focused on cinema and community facilities linked to this, with limited live performance or theatre use.

"Theatres Trust understands the financial considerations that have led Mid Sussex District Council to pursue its plans to replace Clair Hall with an alternative cultural facility."

A council spokesman said: "Mid Sussex District Council welcomes the Theatres Trust's statement and response to cabinet's decision on the future of Clair Hall and look forward to engaging with them to help bring about the best live performance space within the new cultural facility."

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